Tape puller for projectors



Sept. 30, 1941. G; l. RQBERTS Em 2 51.191

TAPE FULLER FOR PROJECTORS Filed March 29, 1934 INVENTORS (3y I ROBERTS BY F DIRKES ATT RNEY patented Sept. 30, 194i TAPE FULLER FOR PROJECTORS George I. Roberts, New York, and Robert F.

'Dirkes, Jamaica, N. Y., assignors to The Western Union Telegraph Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 29, 1934-, Serial No. 718,044

12 Claims.

This invention relates to' telegraph printing and projecting systems in which information, such as stock quotations, printed upon a tape are projected upon a screen for observation. More particularly the invention relates to means for controlling the movement of the tape through the field of the projector.

One of the fundamental requirements of ticker tape projectors, in order toenable the projected quotations easily readable, is that movement of the tape through the field of the projector be smooth and uniform. The usual printers employed for printing stock quotations, however, eject the tape intermittently, as each character is printed, and in order to absorb this intermittent motion of the tape it has been usual to permit a loop of tape to accumulate between the ticker and the projector, with the tape puller disposed at the opposite side of the projector to draw the tape more or less continuously through the projector, the tape being stopped only when the loop decreases to a predetermined minimum size.

While this method of operation, if properly conducted results in a smooth movement of the. tape, it has the disadvantage of producing a considerable lag between the printing of a quotation and its appearance on the screen, due to an appreciable length of tape in the loop between the printer and the projector. If the transmission of quotations is interrupted at any time, the tape puller may continue to operate until the loop is somewhat decreased in size but there is always a number of quotations on a tape which cannot be projected until the ticker again resumes operation. In some cases the delay in presenting these quotations upon the screen may be very considerable.

In the transmission of stock quotations, the quotations are perforated in the tape at the transmitting station and transmitted automatically over the ticker lines by means of standard forms of tape transmitters. If the market is active, the perforating proceeds substantially continuously and the corresponding signals are transmitted at a uniform rate over the lines with but few interruptions. In a slow market, while there may be more frequent interruptions in the transmission, the signals are ordinarily transmitted in groups, each group comprising a number of whole quotations. The rate of transmission of the signals of each group, however, proceeds at a uniform rate, usually about five hundred characters per minute, independently of. the length or number of quotations in the group. If the 55 perforating operator becomes even with the market or for any other reason stops perforating for a short interval, the procedure is to conclude the group of quotations previously perforated with a number of figure dots, the purpose of these signals being to space the tape out of the .printer sufliciently to enable the last quotation to be entirely visible at the printer.

We take advantage of these characteristics of the transmitted signals to control the movement of the tape through the projector in a novel manner, one of the objects being to entirely eliminate the use of a tape loop and thereby avoid the time lag between the printing and the projecting of the quotations, incident to the use of such a loop.

Another object is to provide an even and uniform movement of the tape across the field to the projector.

Another object is to enable the last quotation preceding an interruption in the transmission of signals to be projected without delay.

A still further object is to provide a device capable of distinguishing between the short interruptions in the operation of the printer occurring in the normal operation of the tape transmitter and the longer intervals produced by the perforating operator between successive groups or strings of quotations.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

In accordance with our invention we start the movement of the tape when the first character of a string of quotations is received and maintain the movement thereof continuous as long as the successive characters are received without interruption, the tape passing directly from the ticker to the projector without an intermediate 1oop. By placing the outlet of the ticker close to the inlet of the projector, there will be but a short length of tape therebetween and each quotation will appear on the screen with negligible delay. The elimination of the tape loop without the resulting jumpiness of the projected images is made possible by feeding the tape in a continuous manner from the printer, printing being effected on the fly in place of the usual practice in which the tape stops during the printing stroke. For this purpose the usual tape feed is entirely eliminated from the printer and the tape drawn past the type wheel by a tape feedmechanism disposed at the opposite side of the projector from the printer.

The movement of the tape is made uniform and continuous as long as the printer continues ime or w ch a e ing the selecting cam drum notches of' the disks to operate in response to a group or string of quotations. If the operation of the printerris interrupted momentarily in the middle of a quotation, which occurs only occasionally, the tape I is stopped until printing is resumed, but upon for a longer period, due to cessation of signals the perforating operator ceasing to perforate the V tape for a more or less extended period and preceding which figure dot signals are perforated in thetape, the mechanism responds to these signals to continuously advance the last quotationi 15. V gag'edqbyl. a pin 5.! a diagrammatic. View a J of a tape printing apparatus, and tape pullingmechanism embodying the pre sent'invention.

The type of tape printer with which thecing, e fier. ho n hat popu rl nown, s i h. s eedlstock. c e hav e com er ial: designation Ticker 5A", the details of construchown in te t' Mgrton, et al, No. 1,82l,1 10, granted'September l,' 1931. Only such parts'of the printer mechanism arefshown asfa're necessary for an understanding'of the present invention.

Referring tothe drawin the printer employs two'parallel shafts I and l I; the former carry,- I v (not shown), and anfoperal ing cam l2, having an external cam faceJSjand'an internal carn track M. The'shaft I l carrie s the type wheel and surrounding the shaft is a series of fivenotched code disks it, one "only of which is shown, with which an annulargroup of type wheel stop bars. I] cooperate. The;- stopbars', are normally held in an outward position by the periphery of the disks IE} but in each combination i'nv which the disks may be setthendllchsfofall of the'disks will be alined opposite one, of, the stop bars, to permit the stop bar .to move radially inward, These stop bars determine the, printing position of the, type when. Adjacent one of theistop ba rs 1'; which corresponds to -the figure dot selection, is apair of contacts. Ill, normally held closed by the bar ll. except when the samemoves into the alined; at which time the contacts I8. open. The .disks i6,.are selectively ppsitioned by means of transfer levers ISL cooperating with a set of selector levers 29, positionedbytheselectorcamlnot shown) nthe shaft "1.;

The tape T. isdrawn' from areel 2 beneath an idler roller ;22 and thence between the type. Wheel l5andfthe printing platen 23. From this point it. passes 'frorni'thej printer and across a support 24, where it may be directly observed or projected on a suitable screen. 7 From the sup-.

por lat pe sses e ea h a e. o r. and overthe tape, feed roller 26. which is driveniby'a suitable motor 21 through reduction gearingat'a low speed. A pressure roller 2 8 carriedj'by a'lever 29, pivoted at point 30, is; urged into contact with the roller 26 by means a r n b t contact therewith by an electro magnet 32; A pair of J -springs 332and 34 maintainfthe tape taut across the support 24 and prevent-the Increment thereof by 'the feed roller 25- when thereuer 28 is not in engagement therewith;

" magnet 32 will ars o. dn ra qa h m We have shown levers 36 and 38 connected by a link for simplicity of illustration, although the actual connections therebetween are more involved. Disposed above the press lever a lever 4|, pivoted at 42 and carrying a 43 adapted to be engaged by the lever 38 as it rises, to rock the lever 4| against the action of a spring 44. Atits opposite end the lever 4| is connected. through a link to the stem 46 of a dash pot M. A pair of contacts 48 is disposed above the lever M in such position as to be closed thereby when the left end of the lever is in its uppermost position, but to be opened whenever this endpfthelever moves downward. An- 7 other pair. of contacts 49 are arranged to be enprojecting from the face of the'operating cam thecamis in the stop position, as shown.

The magnet 32 is adapted to be energized from asource of potential 52 over a circuit extending r m he .01 199 hr u hh tacts. .8..an enductg f and. 4- A. ara el. c uit. may. also .b e iahli .1111 om ource 5.2: h u h; en s nd. 1: a d magnet 32,

9l h air o ntacts. 5. re rranes slt9; beclosed by the shift lever .ifi'otthg pripterwhen. n tte ase DOSiP QH PI i QJbEAP-W n; h g???- ca e osi m. T39. 3 EYEF. 51m. p n s oi t e, y hawn is o era e b s x h m u s adde a h s. grou hro gh. n era sierlever 9-.

h p a onnfi b mechanismiu t e c ibed; s 9 9wS= t the: Pr nt ra est he am; s. n he. p sit enshewa the e ca s n on:- e is Mama-m9 be l s d-l he. stQR bar ith ich. e qeta t o perat orresponds. 0 he fi ur s ot el tiona l l s he. a t. ig al givi dselsp h s tep h tin onta ts. Wwi ls e lqsed nder. hese ami t qns. h n zed" r th. of; he; -l hat: a; tr ng; of quotations are receivedon the printer, the f rst: character signal of the group. will start the f imakes ae. yel ce a a h. haracter .r c i ed ndrppn. he e inni of ts m ve ent n: he d c io of thei arrow the contacts 49 are opened interl t sbn of th pe a l i i stcemes: net 321i Shortly; thereafter the earn track I raisesthe Pre s. e r 31 whic fl ets. rinti of a previouslyselected character. At the same circuits traced] it is assumed timethe' right end-ofleverfil is raised lowering V i9- bothopen, the circuittomagnet 32- is inter- 'is adaptedto be held" out of;

Contacts closemornentarily duringseach reyos.

Printing is effected by me'ansof-a hammer 35: I

carried ona lever 36 -pivoted-at-31'-and operated-:- by means of a press lever. tdpivoted at=39-and 5a rollerf qll engaging in-thetrack-cam- M.

rupted and the pressureroller 28--is brought'into engagement with the feed roller 26thereby cans-- ing the tape to be drawn at a slow rate from thereel 2| beneaththe type wheel I5.- It-s hould be noted that there is no paperfeed-mechanism inthe printer itself, the. entire: movement ofe. the;

tape.beinglcausedrbythe. feed:-.roller-.-2B.x As each successiveacharacter is. printed thepress lever 38 -=moves .thepistonof thedash. pot to. its. IOWfiII-Q most position. Thepistorr is..slowly-.raisedcbe-.- tweenprinting strokes byrthe. spring .44.: but; as. long as l successive characters are; received in. continuous succession. it .does not reaclnits .uppergl positionand thereforecontacts ..4;8 ...remain,op.en.-..

lutioniof 3 the operating.- cam l 3 .but .their iperiod-s of closure-is insufiicient to. eifechenerg-izat'mn of:

the-magnetizp Consequently the pressureiroller 7.8. rerriain's' in continuous lengagement witlr. thg

roller l2 so as to be closed whenever he. conductor/ 1 etra feed roller- 26 and the tape moves continuously across the support '24. Printing is effected on the tape while the same is in motion but since the movement is slow and the printing stroke very fast a clear impression is produced. If it is assumed now that a momentary interruption occurs in the operation of the printer, as for instance due to the operation of the autocontrol lever of the tape transmitter, the printerwill be brought to rest in-the position shown, thereby closing contacts 49 and completing a circuit through this contact and normally closed contact l8 to the magnet 32 to stop the tape feed. If this interruption continues for a sufiicient period the piston of the dash. pot will rise to its uppermost position closing contacts 48 and establishing a second circuit to the magnet 32. Upon resumption of transmission the cam l2 again rotates, first to openvcontact 49 and then contact 48 to again interrupt the circuit of the magnet 32 and permit the tape feed to continue. As previously stated, when the transmitting operator completes a string of quotations she terminates the same with a number of figure dots. Whenever this point in the transmission is reached the printer stops with the stop bar II in selected position and consequently with the contacts l8 and 55 open. It will be evident therefore that the closing of contacts 49 upon the stopping of the printer does not complete the circuit to the magnet 32 and consequently the feeding of the tape does not immediately cease but continues until the dash pct 46 reaches its upper position to close contacts 48. The timing of the dash pot is such as to enable a sufficient amount of tape to be drawn from the reel 2| following the stopping of the printer in figures dot position, before the stopping of the tape, to enable the last printed quotation to be drawn on to the support 24 so as to appear upon the screen of the projector.

The stop bar ii in addition to controlling the printing of the figures dot, also controls the printing of a character in the letters shift position of the type wheel. The purpose of contact 55 is to prevent the continued feeding out of the tape whenever the printer is stopped with the stop bar I7 selected, with the printer in the letter case position. When this does occur contact 55 will be closed, due to the shift lever 56 being in the letters shift position and consequently a circuit for the feed control magnet 32 will be completed from battery 52 through contacts 49 and 55 in series and by conductor 54 to the winding ofmagnet 32. The magnet 32 will, therefore, be energized and the tape arrested immediately upon the stopping of the printer with the last selection a letter character, even though the selection involves the operation of the stop bar I7 and consequent opening of contact l8.

It will be noted that we have produced a tape pulling mechanism in which the movement of the tape is extremely uniform during the reception of a group of quotations and in which there is no tape loop provided between the printer and the projector. Furthermore, at the conclusion of a group of quotations the last quotation is not held between the printer and the field of the projector but is fed directly in the position to be projected. However, any other interruptions from the transmission which are ordinarily of very slight duration, do not cause this automatic feeding out of the tape but hold it stationary until printing is resumed.

It is to be understood, of course, that the invention is susceptible to various modifications and tive operation of said support, means for may be embodied in different forms. -'-Iherefore, we do not desire to be limited 'to' the particular details of construction shown and described. v y We claim:

1. In combination, a recorder for'stock quotations or other messages, a support, a tape feeding mechanism for advancing the tape across said stopping the movement of said tape across said support upon interruption of the operation of said printer and means responsive to predetermined selective operation-of said recorder for delaying the stopping of the tape until the last quotation or message recorded prior to said interruption has been advanced on to said support. I

2. In combination, a tape reel, a support, a recorder responsive to equal length letter codes disposed between said tape reel and support, a tape puller disposed on the opposite side of said support from said recorder, and serving to draw said tape directly from said reel, past said recorder and across said support in a continuous movement, said recorder being arranged to 'record characters on said tape without interruption in the movement thereof, and selective means responsive to a predetermined selective operation of said recorder preceding a cessation of operation, for arresting the movement of the tape a" predetermined time after the cessation of the operation of the recorder.

3. In combination, a recorder, a tape feeding device for advancing tape beyond said recorder for observation in a continuous and uniform movement during the printing of successive char acters, means for normally arresting the move ment of the tape upon cessation of theoperation of the recorder and means responsive to a predetermined selective operation of said recorder preceding a cessation of operation, for advancing the last printed character a predetermined distance beyond said recorder. 1

4. In combination, a tape recorder, a support, a tape pulling mechanism for advancing the tape from the recording position of the recorder to and across said support, said tape pulling mecha IllSIIl being operative upon predetermined selec-v recorder, preceding an in terruption in the operation thereof, for advancing the last recorded character on to said support, timing means comprising a dash pot, means for operating the movable element of said dash pot into operated position upon each cycle of opera tion of said recorder, the period of movementof said movable element from operated back tonormal position, being not less than the time required for the tape pulling mechanism 'to ad- Vance the tape from recording position on to said support, said element in its normal position acting to render the tape pulling mechanism ineffective to advance the tape.

5. In combination, a support, a data recording dev ce located at one side of said support and having a tape supply, a tape pulling device located at the opposite side of said support and constituting the sole means for feeding the tape from said supply. means for operating said tape pulling means continuously during a continuous succession of cycles of operation of said recording device whereby said tape is drawn in a con tinuous movement through said data recording device and across said support during said continuous succession of cycles of operation of the data recording device, means for stopping the movement of the tape upon interruption of the tol operation ofthe data recordingdeviceand means for delaying th'ezstopping ofi-the tape until the.

last printed: character has, beenadvanced onto.

said support. o I

6. In combination, a support, a data recording device located at one s-ide;ofsaid support and having. a tape supply, a tape pulling; device 101-.

' cated; at the. opposite side. of saidsupport and constituting the sole means for feeding; the, tape from said-supply,

means for operating. said tape:

- 10. In-combination; a recorder including. means" for printing messages; on av tape,.a tape feeding; device .for advancing tape, beyond: said recorder for observation in a continuous and uniform movement during the printingof successive characters, means for normally arresting the movementjof the tape upon-cessation of the operation pullingmeans continuously during a continuous succession of cycles of operation of said recording devicewherebyi Saidtape is drawn in acontinuousmovement through saiddata recording device and across said support during said continuous succession of cycles of operation of: the data recordingwdevice, means for stopping; the movement. of'the tape upon interruption of the'opera- .tionofthe data recording device andmeansresponsive to a; predetermined selectivev operation of said. data. recording, device to advance the last printed character preceding such interruption,.onto said. support. 1

o '1} In combinationpa tape recorder, a. support, a tape. pulling'mechanism for advancing. tape across said. support, means for normally. arresting the tape upon cessation of operation of said 1', order, means responsive to a; predetermined v sages.

9. In combination, a message recorder operable in regular recurring cycles to record successive characterson a movable tape, means for moving said" tape through the recorder,.means for arrestingithe'ta'pe upon a cessation of the regular cyclic operationfof the recorderand means responsive a predetermined selective operation of said recorder preceding, a cessation ofoperation, for retarding the operation of. said; arresting means upon a cessation of the cyclicv operation of the recorder occurringhonly between successive messages of the recorder and-means responsiveto a selective-operation of said recorder preceding a=cessa-.- tion'rofoperation, for advancing the last printed character a predetermined distance beyond said recorder.

11. In. combination,. a tape recorder, means comprising a field of vision beyond said recorder,

a tape pulling. mechanism for advancing the tape from the recording. position of the recorder, to

' and across. said field. of vision, said. tapepulling mechanism being, operative upon selective operration of said recordenpreceding an interruption in the operationthereof, foradvancing the last recorded: character into. said .field: of vision, timing means comprising a. movable element, means for operating said movable element into operative. positionupon each cycle of said recorder, the

period of movement of said movable elementfrom operative back to normal positionbeing not less, than the time required for the tape pulling mechanism to. advance thetape from recording posi tion into said. field of vision, said element in its normal position-acting to render the tape pulling mechanism ineffectiveto advance the tape.

12; In combination, a telegraph. recorder. responsive to incoming signals for recording mes.- sages onja. tape,.means comprising a support to which said recorded tape passes from the recorder, tape feeding: mechanism for advancing the tape fromthe recording position to said sup-' port, means for arresting said advancement of.

the recorded tape past the recording position im mediately after cessation of the recording oper ation of the recorder between successive characters of' a. predetermined group of charactersrof a: message, and means operable upon the cessation'of the recording operation of the recorder following the recording of the last: character of said predetermined group: of charactersof a message for preventing said-immediate cessation and for causing the. continued advancement of said recorded tape from the recording position to said support to cause the last character of said predetermined groupto be advanced-t0 said support without delay incident to said last named cessation of the recording operation.-

GEORGE I. RQBERTS. ROBERT F. DIRKES; 

